Highway 39 and bicycling

[meister808]

Does anyone know the status/conditions of the closed section of what was previously Highway 39 between Crystal Lake and Highway 2?  A buddy of mine is on a long bike tour and looking for a good route between the Huntington Beach area and WW, the best I could come up with would be Cajon Blvd or maybe Lytle Creek Rd., but we are both curious if the upper (closed) section of Hwy 39 could be an option.  Is there a road there or is it completely gone in places - and is it at all legal to ride a bicycle there?

The buddy in question is quite experienced at bicycle touring, having ridden coast-to-coast several times, so he's not afraid of some bushwhacking, but obviously if it is a sheer cliff (or he'd probably get arrested) that's a different story.

Thanks for anything anyone knows!

[Joe Schmoe]

From what I've read here I believe there is never less than one lane of road space on the closed section, probably as a last resort evacuation route.  You can verify this in google maps.  I've also read that closed means closed and yes it's illegal.  After they finally opened the road up to the top following the Williams fire (I believe was the name) the new gate is now 1/2 mile further down into Azusa canyon than it's historical location.  You can only get just a bit past the cutoff to Crystal Lake and can no longer see Highway 2 like you could at the old gate.

[Tall Trees]

A gate is to keep out vehicles only and foot, bikes and equestrian are usually allowed on roads closed to motor vehicles.  I see hikers and bikers on the section of Hwy. 39 all the time.  This section of road is not maintained and in some places is only one lane.  If an area has a hard closure where no entry is permitted then it would be under a Forest Order and signed to that effect.  There are no Forest Closures in effect on the closed road section of Hwy. 39.  The road is closed because it is dangerous, barely one lane in places and I hiked on it recently and was happy that I was not there when one of those big boulders came crashing down onto the road.  I do not plan on hiking or using this segment of old Hwy. 39 again as the area is completely unstable and dangerous.  People have to understand that there is an inherent danger when you enter into the Forest or Wilderness areas and you have to make a mature decision about your safety.  I for one feel that this particular section of road traversing the western slopes of Islip Mountain is extremely dangerous.  This is a good area though to view the Big Horn Sheep.

[Wrightwood]

Caltrans has repaired several storm damaged sections of San Gabriel Canyon Road (SR-39) 11 miles north of Azusa.  The highway has been closed to public access since January 6 at East Fork Road.

http://caltransd7info.blogspot.com/2016/04/san-gabriel-canyon-road-sr-39-on-mend.html?platform=hootsuite

[RobertW]

The upper portion of 39 is used only for emergency vehicles and as stated is down to one lane in many places.  The USFS Big Pines Station patrol area, Area 38, extends on Hwy 2 to Islip Saddle.  When responding to "motorcycle down" calls on the far western portion of our area on Hwy 2, we often find that USFS personnel from the San Gabriel River District, Crystal Lake area, have beaten us there, their having used Hwy 39 to reach Hwy 2.

This upper portion of 39 will most likely never be opened to the public, as it is far too unstable as already mentioned and any "fix" would only prove temporary as the road would AGAIN be washed away in the next big storm.  It has been repaired and reopened numerous times over the last 70 years and always with the same result. It was last closed back in the 70s. Hwy 39, like Hwy 2 is maintained by CalTrans, NOT the USFS.  Despite pressure from politicians in Azusa, the State, CalTrans, has elected not to throw massive amounts of money into the proverbial "bottomless pit".  It is kept passible for emergency vehicles only and could be used as an emergency evacuation route during a very serious fire event.

As mentioned the closure only affects vehicles and is open to hiking and biking, though again, you might want to think twice about those boulders that routinely come free from the mountain...

[TimG]

Oh I didn't know we were allowed to hike it or bike it, good to know!  I've wanted to do that.

[sharyn]

My husband used to drive from Palmdale to Glendale using Angeles Forest and the 2.  That may be a better way but I know parts have been closed at times due to snow or fire.
Your friend could also take Sierra Hwy to Pearblossom Hwy.

[Joe Schmoe]

The upper portion of 39 is used only for emergency vehicles and as stated is down to one lane in many places.  The USFS Big Pines Station patrol area, Area 38, extends on Hwy 2 to Islip Saddle.  When responding to "motorcycle down" calls on the far western portion of our area on Hwy 2, we often find that USFS personnel from the San Gabriel River District, Crystal Lake area, have beaten us there, their having used Hwy 39 to reach Hwy 2.

A rare moment of the gate being open during the Tecolote fire in Azusa Canyon 8/17/14.  We passed a lot of traffic on Hwy 2 that must have evacuated up Azusa Canyon and out the gate before reached it.